Chef Wayne Lyons: ‘Chopped’ champion is a soul food extraordinaire

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“It was great for me in the sense that it sort of was a sense of validation. Because people have this misconception of soul food and soul food chefs or cooks, which I think is a bit, a little demeaning,” Wayne said.

“I think by going on, entering the competition on Chopped and winning and being able to show that as a chef I can do more than just fried chicken and collard greens, I think was liberating.”

The stars are lining up

Local residents aren’t the only ones enjoying Chef Wayne’s soul food creations.

Celebrities such as Joe Jackson and Q-Tip have enjoyed meals at Soul Flavors, and rapper Kanye West called it his favorite restaurant in New Jersey after hosting a birthday dinner there.

The list of Soul Flavors’ catering customers includes hit shows Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock as well as Lauryn Hill, Jay-Z, and P.Diddy.

Sous Chef Shawn Santana is Chef Wayne’s right-hand man, aiding in the creation of new soul food dishes and the perfection of traditional recipes.

The cooking duo has been a team, working together for the past 17 years.

Everyone preparing food in the kitchen — Chef Wayne, Sous Chef Shawn, and fellow Soul Flavors employees Janea and John — works together effortlessly.

Chef Wayne shared with theGrio Soul Flavors’ cornbread recipe:

Ingredients:

2 cups all purpose flour
2 cups cornmeal
2 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup fresh or frozen/thawed corn kernels
1 1/2 stick of melted butter
3 cups milk
4 eggs

Directions: 

Mix all dry ingredients ( flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt, baking powder) together in a medium sized bowl.  In a separate small bowl mix the milk and eggs then add to the dry ingredients, mixing until thoroughly incorporated.  Lastly, add the melted butter and corn kernels.  Butter a 10 x 12 pan and pour cornbread mixture in and bake for 1 hour at 325 degrees.

Note: Make sure your oven is pre-heated for at least 15 minutes  before baking cornbread.

Follow Chef Wayne Lyons on Twitter @SoulChefWayne.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals.